Park Forest has always been conscious of its history.
Not many communities have had books written about the way it shaped city planning, such as “America’s G. I. Town” by Greg Randall, a best-seller about the creation of a new kind of corporate society. Or “The Organization Man” by William Whyte, or a display in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History on how the village helped change post- war commuting habits.
The town has won two All-America City awards and in the finals on two other occasions.
Thus, it seems only logical there is the Park Forest Hall of Fame to honor those who helped create and complete this different and diverse community.
At 3 p.m. this Sunday in Freedom Hall, seven people, most of whom flew under the radar of community life, will be inducted into the Park Forest Hall of Fame.
This ceremony, an annual affair of the Park Forest Historical Society, is meant to highlight the village’s unique place in the life of a community founded 76 years ago as a post-World War II model.
This year the following seven people will be inducted.
Famed Rich East High School football coach George Egofske, who coached four undefeated teams in the 1960s and was twice elected to the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame, as a multisport athlete at Illinois State university and as a trailblazing coach.
Pioneer settlers Aaron and Rose Greenberg, who planted a seed that blossomed into Park Forest’s commercial future when they opened Sexton’s on the Mall, the first food and beverage business in the new town.
Karen Blackful, who worked at the Park Forest Public Library for 24 years, was a member of the village’s Recreation and Parks Advisory Board and, according to her children, instilled love for and service to the village. Her son, Victor, is Freedom Hall’s cultural arts supervisor.
Julie Townsend, a reluctant nominee who is the president of the Park Forest Garden Club and, along with her late husband “Pastor Bob” Townsend, is a pillar of support for Calvary United Protestant Church.
Ruth Smith, who for nearly 60 years or since she and her late husband, Carroll, moved into town has been a vital contributor to the welfare of the village as a music teacher as well as the longtime director of the Park Forest Chansonettes.
Susan Blatchford, who juggles two fundamental tasks in and for Park Forest. In her six years as head of Park Forest’s Beautification Awards program, she has streamlined a cumbersome program and takes to social media on a routine basis to correct distortion, half truths and lies about the village.
With these seven honorees, the hall of fame now numbers 216 individuals and another nine groups, clubs and area organizations.
Philip Klutznick, recognized as the person with the vision for a community, one which helped returning World War II veterans find new homes for new families,was the first inductee and the most obvious choice to become the first entrant into the hall in 1989, the 40th anniversary of incorporation.
It took another five years before the society decided how to put a bell on the cat and that the easiest thing to do was hold an annual selection process and hold an annual election. In 1994, 11 more were named to the hall. That turned the one-time ceremony into an annual and respected event
One would think recognition by your neighbors is a warm and fuzzy medal of honor, and in many cases, family written obituaries include this honor.
Through all those years, society Director Jane Nicoll has been its most ardent supporter and advocate for the preservation of this community’s history and archives. As I wrote earlier this year, the society is seeking a permanent site for the vast archival collection as its time in soon-to-be closed St. Mary Catholic Church on Monee Road comes to an end.
Jerry Shnay, at jerryshnay@gmail.com, is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.
